STR Acquires Gerard Murphy and Associates

STR has acquired Gerard Murphy & Associates (GMA), a firm specializing in market research studies and surveys, with particular emphasis on developing, marketing and conducting statistical evaluations of the meetings market, both in North America and Europe.

Many city agencies and convention and visitor bureaus use GMA services to benchmark and evaluate programs over time and as a basic platform for strategic planning.

GMA's studies are branded under the names Metropoll and Europoll. GMA has conducted Metropoll since 1983 and as a result of this longitudinal research, the firm provides a database of trend information and an exceptional in-depth understanding of the meeting industry.

The most recent version of the biennial study, Metropoll XIII, probes a number of topics of current interest and is available for purchase. For example, the study was updated to examine the impact of the current economic downturn, changes in e-marketing, and the implications of greening initiatives on meeting site selection. In addition, core topics from the past twelve studies were also evaluated, such as: key determinants in site selection, strengths of markets, images of leading North American cities as meeting sites and travel destinations, and the most effective ways to reach planners of major North American meetings and conventions. The most recent study is based on responses from more than 1,100 major association and corporate meeting holders in the United States.

The GMA services further expand upon STR's existing specializations. "GMA and the products that Jerry Murphy has developed, including Metropoll and Europoll, will provide data to serve the needs of cities and other municipal agencies that are making strategic decisions concerning their strengths and weaknesses," said Mark Lomanno, STR's president. "This type of information is more valuable than ever in the business climate of today. Further, with the expanded information STR can provide, we believe STR will continue to represent a one-stop shop for data needs and interpretive services."

The services of GMA will be operated by RRC Associates in Boulder, Colorado. RRC provides a broad range of market research, land use planning, customer satisfaction, and media and communications research services. A full-service research company, RRC utilizes a broad set of research methodologies including web, intercept, mail and phone surveys, and focus groups and panels to address client needs.

Chris Cares, Director of RRC said: "Jerry Murphy, the principal with GMA, will continue to work with RRC to maintain a continuity of service and analysis and to ensure that future studies will allow longitudinal comparison with past research. Further, Murphy will assist in expanding the range of meetings-related information that STR/RRC will be offering in the future."

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